eDAL - electronic data archive library

eDAL - electronic data archive library provides an electronic data archive and management framework for publishing, versioning, and programmatic access to life-science research datasets to support preservation and reuse.

Key Features:

• Version Tracking and Metadata Management: Provides robust version control and maintains comprehensive metadata for each dataset.
• Information Retrieval and Persistent Identifiers (DOI): Supports efficient information retrieval and integrates with the DataCite consortium to register DOIs for datasets.
• Embedded HTTP(S) Server: Includes an embedded HTTP(S) server to provide public access to published data.
• Network File System Access: Allows interaction with stored data using network file system semantics.
• Scalable Storage Backend: Built on a scalable storage backend suitable for large and diverse research data volumes.
• API Availability: Exposes local non-shared storage APIs and remote APIs that support distributed applications.
• Automated Data Submission: Features an automated data submission tool to support dataset publication workflows.
• Support for Standard Metadata Formats: Supports standard metadata formats to capture descriptive and technical dataset information.

Scientific Applications:

• Plant Genomics and Phenomics Research Data Repository (PGP): Used in the development and operation of the PGP repository by the Leibniz Institute of Plant Genetics and Crop Plant Research (IPK) and the German Plant Phenotyping Network to publish plant research data.
• Cross-domain Dataset Publication: Enables publication of comprehensive and cross-domain plant research datasets that exceed central repository constraints in volume or complexity.

Methodology:

Supports the FAIR principles (findable, accessible, interoperable, reusable) via a programmatic interface, support for standard metadata formats, an automated data submission tool, internal review workflows, and publication of datasets with citable DOIs.